Scott Williamson’s confidence on the rise

BRIDGEWATER — Retiring three straight hitters with ease last week did something for Scott Williamson that a look at his World Series ring or his National League Rookie of the Year award could not.

It boosted his confidence.

Williamson’s big picture includes success at baseball’s highest level, but his struggles with the Somerset Patriots at the start of this season left him searching for some answers.

“Any time that you’re not getting outs, that’s going to be tough to swallow,” Williamson said. “But it wasn’t making me feel pressure. It made me think, “What are you doing to get yourself out of this?’ I knew it wasn’t my body, so it had to be mechanics.”

Steady side work to correct any flaws might finally be producing results for Williamson, who did not pitch Saturday night as the Patriots topped the Road Warriors 7-1 at TD Bank Ballpark. Jeff Nettles hit a two-run home run as part of a six-run rally in the fifth inning.

“It only takes one time to know what it feels like,” said Williamson, who recorded his first perfect inning of the season Wednesday. “It really felt smooth, like it all clicked.”

That is welcome news for the Patriots, whose entire bullpen has fallen short of preseason expectations. The unit owns a collective 6.39 ERA — and Williamson, the projected closer, allowed seven earned runs and seven walks in his first 3 1/3 innings.

“I felt great in the bullpen but it wasn’t transferring to the mound — and that gets frustrating,” said Williamson, who praised pitching coach Brett Jodie’s patience. “We made a few little mechanical adjustments and now I feel good. Now I’m comfortable.”

The timing of the 35-year-old right-hander’s control problems made little sense on the surface.

Williamson entered the season healthy and rested after playing only a few weeks of winter ball and training on his own at a Mississippi high school.

It seemed like ideal conditions for improving upon the success of last season, when he had a 3.94 ERA, a ratio of 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings and went 15-for-15 converting save opportunities despite being only a few months removed from shoulder surgery.

“He came in throwing the ball exactly like he did last year and I think he expected to be on a roll like he was last year,” Jodie said. “It shows you that anybody can get in a rut — and I think he let it snowball a little bit.”

Williamson thinks the lack of a lengthy spring training — like the one the former major-leaguer became accustomed to during a 13-year career in affiliated baseball — also messed with his senses and did not afford enough opportunity to iron out bad habits.

“Usually I’ve already thrown 10 times before the bell rings,” he said. “This is something new where I’ve only thrown three times before the season started. I came in in shape to throw to hitters, but it takes a while getting all your body parts in a rhythm.”

To make matters worse, Williamson was struck in the back of the leg with a line drive May 20 while trying for the save. He was pulled from the game.

“Maybe that’s the wake-up call I needed to just worry about what I can control,” said Williamson, who followed up his perfect inning by notching a one-pitch save Thursday. “To just be free and easy, and let the ball go.”

Repeating that simplified approach will be the sign of comfort that Jodie hopes to see.

“At first, he wasn’t letting it loose. Then, he got too aggressive,” Jodie said. “We’ve got to get him more consistent, but I think he’s right where he needs to be.”